i'm runnin the gauntlet
scrapin by in things i can't give myself to
i'm livin and i'm lovin.
i'm givin and i'm burnin
burnin up these walls
creepin round me
overcrowdin me
cuz i ain't fightin by you, brother
cuz i ain't protectin you, sister
in these pretty little picket-fences
i am surrounded by mixed-up concept
concepts so crude and cruel
are you even human?
can you breathe those words
and really be breathin?
i've been told to stay behind
to not go now or even ever care
how dare you!
i got my sisters, brothers, best friends and lover
i got my God, my Jesus, and my dream
i got a sickness you ain't tainted
i got freedom you ain't tasted.
c'mon and raise the ladel
i'll help you cradle
that sweet soul soup in your hand
let it pour down deep
let it bathe the land.
Dr. King, Mahatma Ghandi
President Mandela, and sister Zariatu
you're all i got to get me where i've always been
you're gonna save the world a thousand fold
but you ain't the first
i cannot
will not
refuse to wipe your tears
your fears from the face
the face of this bloody planet.
my homeland, as my sister says:
"it's a very colorful place, very colorful-
-and that color's red."*
Ecclesiastical
"Five for Fighting"
Epistle
"Three for Thriving"
Universal
"One for Winning"
this is my life.
don't take it.
please don't take it.
i'm gonna be in a parade-
a victory march-
before i pass and fade.
just one in the masses
made of former classes
who don't see black or white no mo.
so i ask fo mo.
mo hope
mo love
mo peace
mo life
just mo-
of what really matters.
written from the heart and unedited, unadulterated, uncensored. Feb. 5, 2007. you may put this anywhere else and call me "anonymous". i can roll with that. just don't prevent my words from bein read. (*credits for the quote holla back to my sister, Aisha)
love and peace or else, sisters and brothers.
namaste. pax. salaams. love.
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3 comments:
Thank you Asher, I needed the encouragement this morning, and that definitely has me ready to face the day once more.
much love and respect my brother.
salaams
"i got a sickness you ain't tainted
i got freedom you ain't tasted."
Oh, I loved the sound of your voice crescendo as you read these two lines aloud.
I don't know why, but I had the sudden urge to shout "Hallelujah! Amen, brother!"
It's lovely, Ash. Amazing and beautiful. Gorgeous.
Asher. Wow. What a great piece of writing. You are gifted and passionate and I am proud to be your father. Don't let anyone (even me) rob you of your passion. We old folks (and some not so old) mock and tease what we either don't understand (and wish we did) or know we've lost (and wish we hadn't).
Peace.
Dad
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